2013 AMC 12A Problem 21

Below is the professionally curated solution for Problem 21 of the 2013 AMC 12A, from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 2013 AMC 12A solutions, or check the answer key.

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Concepts:logarithm bounding to limit cases induction

Difficulty rating: 2210

21.

Consider $A = \log(2013 + \log(2012 + \log(2011 + \log(\cdots + \log(3 + \log 2)\cdots)))).$

Which of the following intervals contains $A?$

$(\log 2016, \log 2017)$

$(\log 2017, \log 2018)$

$(\log 2018, \log 2019)$

$(\log 2019, \log 2020)$

$(\log 2020, \log 2021)$

Solution:

Let $A_n = \log(n + \log((n-1) + \cdots + \log(3 + \log 2)\cdots)).$ One checks $0 \lt A_n \lt 1$ for $2 \le n \le 9,$ then $1 \lt A_n \lt 2$ for $10 \le n \le 98,$ then $2 \lt A_n \lt 3$ for $99 \le n \le 997,$ and $3 \lt A_n \lt 4$ for $998 \le n \le 9996.$

Hence $3 \lt A_{2012} \lt 4,$ so $2016 \lt 2013 + A_{2012} \lt 2017$ and therefore $\log 2016 \lt A \lt \log 2017.$

Thus, the correct answer is A.

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